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Hartman to lead State FFA

By Carolyn LeeThe Imperial Republican Chase County Schools senior Spencer Hartman’s desire to give back to FFA has led him to the state’s highest office. He was elected president of the Nebraska FFA last Saturday during the state convention in Lincoln. The 18-year old said he wants to meet “people and members across the state and have the opportunity to make an impact on them.” He’s already hit the ground running. Hartman was scheduled to be in Lincoln Tuesday through Friday of this week for team building. Conferences with state chapters will begin in May. Hartman, the son of Rob and Carma Hartman of Champion, was one of 38 candidates interviewed for the president’s position a month ago. A committee then selected 17 students for a three-day interview process during the state convention. A nominating committee then selected a slate of officers, which includes the president, treasurer and five vice presidents. That slate was approved Saturday. Hartman will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln next fall, majoring in agricultural economics. He hopes to become a venture capitalist. The FFA president’s job won’t really affect his classes next fall, but Hartman said he may have to take a lighter load in the spring of 2014. “I had the opportunity to take dual credits here at CCS, so I won’t be set back too much,” he said of his spring class schedule. However, he will need some help harvesting his hydroponic tomatoes this summer. That business was the basis of his FFA proficiency project in ag business, which won him first place in that division at the 2012 FFA State Convention, and a Star Degree at this year’s convention. Hartman has been a member of the Imperial FFA Chapter for four years. He was Junior Officer vice president his sophomore year, Senior Officer secretary his junior year and Chapter President his senior year. There are about 6,000 members in FFA across Nebraska.